Magnetic mold cover retainer



Feb. 20, 1945. SQCLAUSEN ET AL 2,369,648

MAGNETIC MOLD COVER RETAINER- Filed Feb. 6, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG I as 5 19 1a II'l'IIIl A20 ,INVENTORS SIGURD CLAUSEN WILLIAM c. BROEKHUYSEN ATTORNEY Feb.'20, 1945. s. CLAUSEN ETAL 2,369,648

MAGNETIC MOLD, COVER RETAINER Filed Feb. 6, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4 5 75 m 75 63 v 74 62 Q1 62 75 64 i 65 p76 FIG. 6' 51 72 I 7] f I; I 5] INVENTORS 6 SIGURD CLAUSEN wmuAM c. BROEKHUYSEN BY ATTORN EY Feb. 20, 1945.

s. CLAUSEN ET AL ,MAGNETIC MOLD COVER RETAINER Filed Feb. 6) 1941 3. Sheets-Sheet 3 2 &2 22

/N Vf N 70/? SIGZ/RD ClAUSE/V W/l 1. MIN 6. BROA'KHU rsnv MT TOR/V w s Feb 20, 1945 Sigurd Clausen, Brooklyn, huyse'n, Garden City,

't'ernational Cigar Mach This invention relatesto a; cigar machine, and

more particularly flto an improvement. in cigar bunch shaping mechanism: Ithas special reference to improvements inwthe construction of molds and covers thereforand especially to the cover securingqineansp {Cigar .bunch shaping devices varefrequently made up of: a. plurality'ofshapingipockets having; covers associated therewith for :shaping cigar hunches inserted "into. said pockets. 7 These pockets travel overzafixedpath; and: duringthis Application February 6 poration of New Jersey 7 1941, Serial No. 25'7'1604 1 7 Claims. (CI;H l 8 7) A further iobjectvis to utilize magnetic means for securing a cover :to a cigar shaping pocket.

It is alsogan object :toficonstruct' cover securing meansin suchazmanner thatforeign magnetic material will not accumulate on :the shaping pockets and covers. I

lAnotheryohject is-.toprovide .a cover securing means which m y ha z pits securing force .rilllfif :fied periodically in order to .i aci-litate the reperiod of travel various types of mechanical,

holding: means-havebeen provided-in. the pjast for holding: said. members together.

. A h u h these devices have usually;perform"ed-:;their lfuncti'onspsati'sfactorily,it has been found-that mechanical devices .are subject to wear and-tear which necessitates their replacementfrom: time to-time. M .Thisflis. true where a circumferential ringlike pathway suchwasthat shown intU. S.pP atent .No.

I 1*,838,157,. granted; December-.29, .1931 .to R.- E.

Rundell, is used for holding .the .coversin' shapingzrelation withrthepockets of an intermittently rotating turret. I Whenthe rollers and pathway noilonger.pushedsnugly into the female pockets, and asaa result the: shaping..- pockets: become larger; and :larger the longer the .,mechanism is used. Amachine using a; mechanical cover retaining device. willialsohave ,a-..certain amount 7 ofnoise 'resulting athereirom and in addition will come. into vcontact with various small piecesof tobacco .causing'it 1to accumulate gum which must be removed in; order to keep the cigar. machine in good operatingcondition. -Where a cigar is ,beingqmadei with .a straight tuck as opposed to a tapered tuck, a cover retaining device such as that disclosed in the above mentioned patent may;: cause. the covers to slide axially. which. damages the cigarundergoing shaping. ,7 p v U V 3 It is thereforean object of the instant invention to eliminate the mechanical cover securing means. usedito hold: the. cigar shaping-pocket and covermemberstogether. This will'not only result ina decrease in theamountofnQiSe caused by an operating, cigar machine, but will also avoid the accumulation" of tobacco" gum upon anymoving partstherebyj avoiding "the necessity of frequent cleaning: Since mechanical parts which might cause the covers to slide axially on the pocket have been eliminated; cigarshaving a -straight tuck can be shapedes re'adilyas cigars having a tapered tucka I .morlaland replacement of the cover or'ithe pocket.

An additional flohie t-i @provid'e asir'iiiii' iw cover securing device which will eliminate the .use :of; :a' considerable numberof interenga'g'ing parts for securin aeshaping cover to a shaping have'become: .worn vwith:use, the male :covers are Other objects and fieatures" of the, invention Willi appear as-the' description of theparticular physical vembodiment selected to illustrate the invention progresses; I

. 'In the accompanying drawings; which form a .part of this'specification ilike;charactersoi refer.- ence have been-applied to corresponding' parts throughout-the several viewswhich make up the .drawings;.in-'which:-= I I v H I 7 Fig. 1 is aside-elevationpartly in section of a portion of ,acigar ;bunch= shaper turret equipped with ,electro-magnets which normally retain the mold coversvin-positiont -F.'ig.-.2- isiaisectional'side elevation of the turret :andin additionqshows the mold cover .removing-apparatus}. Fig; .3 :is a sectional view taken .iromfline .3'- .-3 of Fig; 11' of- :the zelectro-magnet mounting;

I Fig'.-.4:isa sectionahend elev tionof aI modified type of .;,tur ret having Permanent magnetsflfor holding: theimold covers in positi n; v

Fig; .fi illustrates another modified form vijn @whichgthemold covers carry a series of permanent magnets;

-Fig; 6 is a sectional-end view of the sametaken fromlin'e-Ji 6iof.-Eig. -5;.; v Fi 711$Zai BiB B fi Q jipartlyin section of a modified :iorm' .of-'- turr et cor-responding to Fig.

.4; and Rig. .8 is a side;;elevationpartly insection -of a -modified-former turret corresponding to Figs. 5 and 6. n

Referring-{to Rigs. 1 and 2;, the side bracket" l0 orthemachine supports ashaft Ll of a turret L2 .device--l3 of "the type deseribed in Patent made of magnetic material, to which are fastened the female sections I6 of the concentrators or cigar shaping and molding members, there being a circular group of complementary male and female cigar bunch concentrator shaping sections on the turret. The male sections I1 are attached to plates I8 which in turn are secured to holders I9 provided with rollers 20 which enter guide tracks formed in the frames 20a and 20}: supported by rod 200. The frames 29a and 20b are similar in construction to the pathways 23 of the above mentioned Rundell patent and are similarly provided with openings at the top of the turret through which the male sections are removed in a manner to be presently described. The female sections I6 and the male sections I1 of the molding members are made of non-magnetic material.

The turret is rotated in a step-by-step motion by the indexing device I3 which is operated by a cam actuated rod 2| connected to one arm of a bell crank lever 22 fulcrumed on an arm 22a loosely mounted on shaft I I, the other arm of lever 22 carrying a lock 23 engaging the slots of the indexing devic I3. Since the lock 23 is operated in and out of engagement with the slots of the index, in the same manner as described in the above mentioned patent, a detailed description of the same in the present case is omitted in the interest of brevity. The rod 2| is actuated by a cam (not shown) mounted on a cam shaft (not shown) of the machine.

In order to hold the shaping members I6 and I1 in shaping relationship, an electro-magnet is provided On each side of the female sections IS. The fact that applicant has shown the electrojmagnets as being mounted beside the female section I6 does not mean that they cannot be mounted elsewhere to produce the same result.

Each electro-magnet consist of a coil 21, a core 26, and a plate 24. Said members making up 'the electro-magnet are elongated and extend the full length of the concentrators I6.-

The fact that applicant has shown the magnetic flux in a certain path does not mean that the construction cannot be varied to change the path of the magnetic flux, and any such variations are intended to come within the scope of this specification and subjoined claims.

The coils 21 of each pair of electro-magnets "adjacent a pocket are wound oppositely so that the plate I8 of the male section will engage a north pole on one magnet and a south pole on the other magnet, which electro-magnets are located on opposite sides of a female pocket as shown in Fig. 1. Although the turret maybe made of a non-magnetic material without nullifying the retaining force of said magnets, it is preferable to make it of a magneticmaterial so that the flux will be complete and a greater on the securing force exerted by the electromagnets. I.

The plates 24 are held in place by screws 25 passing through the core 25 of the electro-magnets and threading into the turret. The plates 24 are beveled at the ends to reduce the short circuited flux to a minimum and still prevent the entrance of dirt and foreign matter into the electro-magnet. Shields 83 positioned between plates 24 are also a protection against dirt and foreign matter and are made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum. Each pair of magnets is connected in series by a wire 28 and has one lead 29 grounded to the turret I2 and the other lead 30 connected to a brush 3| riding on an insulated stationary contact ring 32 which by a wire 33 is connected to one D. C. terminal of a rectifier 34 having its other terminal grounded. A segment 35 is insulated from the ring 32 and connects by a wire 36 to one side of a switch 31 having a wire 38 connecting to the D. C. supply.

The normally closed switch 31 is equipped with a cam roller 39 actuated by a cam 49 mounted on cam shaft 84. As the turret advances the concentrators one station and dwells, the cam 40 has completed one cycle, thus causing its raised portion 4| to engage the cam roller 39 and operate the switch, thus opening the circuit leading to segment 35 and thereby de-energizing one pair of electro-magnets 21 so that the male section of its associated concentrator can be removed from the turret. The de-energizing and re-energizing features shown may of course be omitted. A suitable cover removing member such as I5, to be resently described, will then exert a force sufficient to remove the cover I1 from the pocket I5 and thereby overcome the securing force exerted by the magnets. The removal of the male section in the present case occurs when the concentrators are in their uppermost or 12 o'clock position.

The current (D, C.) for energizing the magnets may be obtained from any convenient source such as a rectifier 34 or a generator.

The brushes 3| are carried by a holder 42 (Fig. 2) fastened to the turret I2 and are held in engagement with the ring 32 and segment 35 by springs 43 tensioned by nuts 44. The members 32 and 35 are secured to a tationary holder 45 carried by a support 46 of the machine.

The magnetic holding means of each male concentrator is released as it reaches its uppermost position in the turret so that it can be removed for the purpose of discharging the concentrated bunch and of receiving an unconcentrated bunch. The removal of the male sections is accomplished by the swinging arm I5 loosely fulcrumed on the shaft I4 and having a slide bar 50 which is hinged to an arm 5| pinned to the shaft I4. The slide bar 50 is confined in the slideway of arm I5 by guide strips 52 and has fingers 53 which engage slots 54 provided for this purpose in the male section holders I9 and normally held in locked position by the springs 55, the latter holding the arms l5, 5| separated. The shaft I4 is provided with a crank 56 which receives reciprocating motion from a cam lever (not shown) through a rod 51.

The arm I5 is provided with channeled end pieces 58 into which the rollers 20 of the male sections I1 roll as a concentrator approaches its uppermost position. The male sections are securely locked in the arm I5 by the fingers 53 when the arm 5| is held away from the arm I5 by the springs 55. As soonhowever as the arm 5| is pushed against the arm I5, which occurs when the crank 56 keeps on moving after the arm I5 has come to rest on the turret with the concentrator closed, the slide bar 50 moves out and disengages the fingers 53 from the slots 54.

Since the operation of the cover removing and replacing arm I5 is substantially similar to that shown in the Rundell patent above referred to, a

detailed descrlptionrhas teen zomitteditor ;jacentsurface 50 to support the base of :permalnentmagnets 62 (which may be formed of a ferrousalloy containing aluminum; nickel and acobalt in the approximateproportionsof 12% Al, 20% -Ni and Co, the :remainder being Fe with .fra'ction'al percentages-of -.C, Mn and Si, and com- :of the female sections 1.3. The magnetsat their Ima'gnet-ic materialris ap'rovided .for'each female section .19 :and iis'iatt'ache'd to .a non-magnetic plate 8|. The plate 8I is provided with a number of:cutou1;'fp'ortions :10 to .re'ceivezthe rounded permanentmagnets :II which may also be made 0f Alnico, (said .magnets .being, secured -:to the .monly known-as Alnico) placed at each side upper-end are notched at 5-3 to engage correspondingly shaped notches'in theconcentrators -.I3,thereby providing means. for holding the magcnets in position when lockedby clamp plates 84 I "which are made of a non-magnetic material such as aluminum. The male sections {I4 are attached to plates ;'I5 which maybe made of a magnetic .material-suchas cold rolled steel and have-rollers 1.5 which are guided in the tracksiof members {I6 ;v and .1517 and adapted to engage; channeled end .pieces. :ot .-.arm :II.5, when the .rollers enter the .openings not shown) in the members llfic iand 16 b atthetop of the turret, so .that plates .15 may be pulled .away .irom. the permanent} magnets 62, thereby separating the male sections Ilirom the female sections 13; The female. sections 13 and the male sections 14 aremade of a no n magnetic material. "The plates v-'I5 are provided with slotte'd lugs 75a corresponding to the slot 't'ed portions 54 shown in Fig. 2. The turret 11 is fastened to a shaft I II rotatably mounted in a side bracket I I0. Shaft I I I carries an indexing device I I 3 similar to device I3 shown in Figure 2 and similarly operatedby a lock I23 carried by .one arm of a bell crank lever I22 fulcrumed on an arm I22a loosely mounted on shaft III, the other arm of lever I22 being connected to.a cam actuated rod 'IZI. Arm II5 islooselymounted on .a shaft II4 supported in bracket III] and base slide bar I50fconfine'd in-a slideway of arm I I5 "by guide strips I52 and connected 'to arm I5'I 'ffaste'ned on shaft Ill. The latter is provided 82a'and182b supported by rod 82c.

non-magnetic plate-BI and male "sectional! by screws- I2. Pla'te 8 I is provided with slotted lugs 8 la corresponding to the lugs 54 shown in Fig. -.2,-:and carries rollers 82 adapted to be :en- .gaged by -a cover removing means which will pull the roundedpermanent magnets 'I I together withthe malesectionr80 fromthe turret I8 and the female section '19. The rollers 82 -.of the male sections are guided in tracks formed -in..members The .members 82a and 820 have openings at the top of "the turret-to permit the sections to =beremoved and replaced from the turret. v

,The turret I8 is fastened-on a-shaft -2'II aro- .tatably mounted inaaxsideabracket 2H1 and proyided with an indexingdeviceZ I3 fastened there- 'on and operated bya lock 223 carried by \one arm of a bell crank lever .222 carriedbyan arm i222a loosely mountedon shaft III, the other arm of :-lever 222 being operated by cam actuated rod 22 I. Since theoperation-of the indexing device ,is similar to that of the indexing device 7 shown in the above mentioned Rundell patent, 'further description thereof is 'deemed unneceswith. an arm I56, operated by a connecting rod I 51. Arm II5 is provided with channeled end pieces I58 into which the rollers I6 enter as the concentrator approaches its, uppermost position.

The .male sections are locked to the arm II5 by j the engagement of the slotted lugs 15a with the fingers I53 on slide bar I when the arm I5I is moved away from arm II5 by the spring I55.

When thearm I5'I ismoved toward the arm H5,

which occurs when'lthe arm I56 keeps on moving after the arm 'I I5'has returned the concentrator;

tothe'itopof'the turret,'the slide bar continues moving and disengages the fingers I53 .from the lug's'llSa. Since the'covering removing means is similar to that shown in Fig. '2, further 'description thereof is deemed unnecessary. The male sections can be removed by any other suitable means-also, such'as'that disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,157,537, granted May 9, 1939 to H. Wheeler. p

Figs."5, '6, and 8 illustrate another modified form of the present invention and disclose an- "otherfway for utilizing permanent magnets for securinj'g' m old'covers to "a cigar shaping turret. A tur-ref" madeofa"magneticmaterial such sary; The cover removing means is shown in I Fig.8 and consists of anarm 2I5loosely mounted on the shaft 2I4 carried by bracket 1| 0. In .a slide-way of .arm 12I 5 is .slidablyj mounted a bar 250 connected to a link 25I fastened onshaft 2M. Slidefbar .258 is confined in the slide-way of..arm 2I5 by strips T252 and is provided with ffingers 253 which engage the 'lugs '8Ia of "the 'male sections and are normally' held'in locked position Iby'the spring 255. The shaft 2M also carries an arm "2'56 operated by a connecting rod '251. [The arm.2l'5"is provided with channeled end. pieces 258 which receive the rollers "82 of the uppermost male section. This male section is locked to the, arm '2 I5 by the engagement of fingers .253 with lugs "8 Ia, when the arm .251 'is moved away from'the arm M5 by spring255. When the arm 25I is moved towar'dthe arm2 I5,

which occurs when'the 'ar'm 25I keeps on moving after the arm 2I5'has returned the'male section to the top o'fthe, turret, the slide bar continues moving and disengages the fingers 1253 fromthe lugs 8 I d. Then the turret advances the next male "section into position iwherein'its rollers 82' enter the endpieces 258 and the arm 2'I5 is lifted and the lugs 8Ia are engaged by the fingers 253 and the male sectionis thereby locked in position as it is'lifted.

The invention above described may 'be "varied 'in constructionwithin the scope ofthe claims, for the'particular'device selected to'illustrate the invention is but "one of many concrete embodiments of the same. The invention thereforeds not to be restricted tothe precise details of the structureshown and described.

'What is claimed is:

" -1. Thecombinationwith a group of complementary male and female icigar bunch concentraitor sections intermittently rotating about a horizontal axis, of a plurality of 'electro-magnets 'forholding said sectionstogether-during group rotation; "means "for "successively "removing and replacing the male sections at a bunch receiving and discharging position, means for de-energizing and re-energizing the electro-magnets at bunch receiving and discharging position in timed relation with the cover removing and replacing means.

2. In a cigar machine, bunch shaping mechanism comprising a turret, a cigar bunch shaping pocket connected to said turret, a complementary shaping cover arranged to coact with said cigar bunch shaping pocket to shape bunches, electromagnets connected to said turret and positioned to secure said shaping cover to the cigar bunch shaping pocket, an electric circuit connected to said electro-magnets for energizing said electromagnets, and means for removing and replacing said cover on said pocket, and a device for intermittently breaking said circuit to deenergize said electro-magnets in timed relation to the operation of said means.

3. In a cigar machine, a cigar bunch shaping device comprising a turret of magnetic material,

a cigar bunch shaping pocket of non-magnetic material connected to said turret, plate of magnetic material, a complementary shaping cover of non-magnetic material connected to said plate and arranged to coact with .said shaping pocket to shape bunches therein, permanent magnets connected to said turret and positioned so as to engage said plate to secure the cover in shaping position on said pocket, projecting elements connected to said plate, and a device arranged to engage said projecting elements for removing and replacing said cover on said pocket.

4. In a cigar shaping mechanism, the combination with a turret composed of magnetic material and provided with a plurality of pockets of non-magnetic material, a cover composed of non-magnetic material for coaction with said pockets for molding bunches therein, a member made of magnetic material connected to said cover, a pair of electro-magnets associated with said turret and arranged to connect with said member to secure the covers to said pockets when energi ed, means for removing and replacing said covers, and means for deenergizing and re-energizing said electro-magnets in timed relation with 'said cover removing and replacing means.

5. In a cigar bunch shaping mechanism, the combination with a turret composed of magnetic material, of a plurality of non-magnetic pockets connected to said turret, covers of non-magnetic material coacting with said pockets for molding bunches in said pockets, permanent magnets contions transversely mounted thereon, magnetic means operating along the major portion of the length of said sections for holding the sections together during travel, and means for separating said sections at a cigar bunch receiving and discharging station.

8. In a cigar shaping mechanism, the combination with a turret provided with a plurality of pockets and covers coacting with said pockets for molding bunches-in said pockets, of electro-magnetic means positioned adjacent to said pockets, members made of magnetic material connected to said covers and arranged to come into engagement with said electro-magnetic means, a device for removing and replacing said covers on said pockets, and means for de-energizing said electromagnetic means to allow the removal and replacement of said covers on said pockets and energizing said electro-magnetic means to secure the covers to said pockets.

9. The combination with an intermittently rotatable turret provided with a plurality of mold pockets about its periphery, of a plurality of nected to said covers and formed so as to attach themselves to said turret to secure said covers to said pockets, and means for engaging said covers for removing and replacing the same.

complementary covers coacting with said pockets to shape bunches located therein, magnetic members connected to each of said covers, a plurality of electro-magnets connected to the sides of each of said pockets for holding said covers on said pockets by attracting said magnetic members, cover removing members associated with said covers, a transfer cooperating with said turret for engaging said cover removing members to remove and replace covers on said pockets, and means for energizing said magnets to secure said covers to said pockets during rotation of said turret and de-energizing the magnets adjacent each of said pockets consecutively to allow said covers to be removed.

10. The combination with an intermittently rotating turret provided with a series of mold pockets spaced about its periphery, of a plurality of bunch shaping covers cooperating with said mold pockets for shaping bunches lodged therein, a plurality of elcctro-magnets for holding said covers on said pockets during rotation of said turret, means for energizing said magnets, cover removing means carried by said covers, a cover removing and replacing transfer adapted to engage said cover removing means to permit the removal of a shaped cigar bunch and the insertion of an unshaped cigar bunch, and a control circuit for de-energizing said electro-magnets in timed relation with said transfer to release said covers from said pockets.

11. The combination with an intermittently rotatable turret provided with a plurality of spaced pockets around its periphery, of a plurality of permanent magnets disposed adjacent to 6, A cigar bun h shaping mechanism each of said pockets, said magnets being formed prising a turret, cigar bunch shaping pockets of non-magnetic material connected to said turret, covers of non-magnetic material adapted to coact with said pockets to shape a cigar bunch located therein, magnetic members associated with said covers, electro-magnets connected to said turret and positioned to engage said magnetic members to secure each of said covers to each of said pockets, and a control circuit for energizing and de-energizing said electro-magnets to allow the removal and replacement of one of said covers on one of said pockets at a time.

7. In a cigar machine, the combination with an intermittently revolving turret, of complemenof a ferrous alloy containing aluminum, nickel and cobalt in the approximate proportions of aluminum 12%, nickel 20% and cobalt 5% and commonly known as Alnico; a plurality of complementary covers cooperating with said pockets for shaping cigar bunches located therein; a plurality of members made of magnetic material connected to each of said covers and adapted to engage with said magnets for securing said covers to said pockets; and cover removing mechanism adapted to engage and remove said covers at pocket unloading position.

12. In a cigar machine, a rotatable turret, a plurality of mold pockets removably mounted on tarymale and female cigar bunch shaping secs id urret nd ab t the periphe y h f, p r- 'manent magnets connected to said turret andlo cated adjacent to said pockets, a plurality of mold covers adapted to coact with said mold pockets, and elements made of a magnetic material connected to each of said coversand arrangedto engage with said magnets to secure said covers to said pocketsand to mold a cigar bunch located therein. a I

13. In a cigar machine, a rotatable turret made of a magnetic material, a plurality of mold pockets removably mounted on said turret and about the periphery thereof, pocket closing covers adapted to engage in shaping relationship with said pockets to mold cigar bunches located therein, and permanent magnets connected to said covers, said magnets being constructed and arranged to engage with said turret to hold said,

covers fast to said mold pockets.

14. In a cigar machine, a device for molding cigar bunches comprising; a support made of magnetic material, a plurality of mold pockets for shaping cigar bunches connected to said support,

pocket closing covers adapted to engage in shaping relationship with said pockets to mold a cigar bunch located therein, a plurality of permanent for securing said covers in shaping position relative to said pockets, a device for removing said covers from said pockets, and means for nullifying the securing force exerted by said magnetic means to permit said covers to be removed.

16. In a cigar machine, a device for shaping cigar bunches'comprising, an endless traveling support, a plurality of pockets'for shaping cigar bunches connected to said support, pocket closing covers adapted to engage in shaping relationship with said pocket to shape a cigar bunch located therein, means acting along the major-portion of the length of said pockets for attracting said covers to said pockets into bunch forming relationship, and means for-removing and replacing said. covers to allow the removal of shaped cigar bunches and the insertion of unshaped cigar bunches in said shaping pockets.

1'7. In a cigar machine, a device for molding,

cigar bunches comprising, an endless intermittently moving support, a plurality of mold pockets for shaping cigar bunches connected to said support, pocket closing covers adapted to engage in shaping relationship with said pocket to mold a cigar bunch therein, complementary magnetic means connected to said covers and to said sup port, said magnetic means coacting along the major portion of the length of said pockets to hold said pockets and covers in cigar shaping relationship, and means for removing and-replacing said-covers consecutively to allow the removal of molded cigar bunches and the insertion of unmolded cigar bunches in said molding pockets.

WILLIAM C; BROEKHUYSEN. SIGURD CLAUSEN. 

